Hello from Cusco.....

We arrived in Cusco after a pretty long bus journey...it seems in S.America if they quote you a journey time you add on about 2 hours! Also slight confusion on arrival as asked taxi driver to take us to Pirwa hostel and it turns out there are 4 in Cusco and we'd arrived at the wrong one! Ha. So we eventually arrived at the one we were booked in to...ok but again nothing special. It was a very rainy day and we didn't get up to much apart from dinner and a few games of cards. Cusco's streets are tricky to naviagte in the rain as cobbles are very slippery!

The next day we had a lie-in, lovely, and then breakfast at a local bakery. A bit naughty but yum. Then we walked down the cobbled hill in to Cusco centre. The square was beautiful and we wandered around looking at shops and then went in to a church on the square to have a look. We had been recommended a hostel by a friend from Santiago and we'd booked in to the wrong one. We found the real recommended one today: Pirawana just off San francisco square and it was lovely. Real duvets on the beds, amazing! So Becca booked in here for when me and Becky leave for Machu Picchu and we booked in for when we come back.

On our walk home we got offered a massage from some people in the street. We turned down loads before but quite fancied it and was very cheap so excepted this time. We were taken to a room about a market- all seemed a little dodgy! It was actually a really good massage and lasted a long time. They were very giggly girls though and we all kept bursting out laughing all the way through- we also saw a bit to much of each other as they weren't very subtle- all in all a pretty funny experience!

Me and Becky had a very stressful time in net cafes in Cusco trying to book internal flights in USA. The prices kept changing and websites crashing- we had no end of problems with US Airways... this all eventually got sorted in US- very long and boring story!
So after all this drama we were in a big rush to get to dinner. We were meeting Nina, Elisabeth and Sofie- three girls from our tour group who also happened to be in Cusco. We had a lovely dinner with them and got some advice on Machu Picchu.

The next morning we were splitting up as Becca was staying in Cusco and we were off Aguas Calientes. Becky and I got a taxi to the train station stupidly early and then got a three hour train to the small town. It was yet again raining but was lovely there and amazing mountains towering over the town.

Our day at Machu Picchu was amazing. The next day we caught a bus up to the entrance to Machu Picchu. We had debated whether to get a guide or not but decided to wander on our own and go at gentle pace! The guides at MP itself were about 4 times the price of the ones offered to us in the town! We arrived early in the morning and for the first hour or so it was really misty. This added to the dramatic effect though and towards lunchtime the sun came out in full force and it was boiling. I can't describe how breathtaking this place is and again as with so may places, the photos can't do it justice. Not only the ruins themselves but also the views of the mountains from the spot are incredible too. We took some wicked pictures and climbed the steep steps the the classic view point of the ruins. An awesome day.

We arrived back in Cusco that eve and met up with Becca at our new hostel. We only had one night here and wanted to go out with Becca and the new friends she'd made. Unfortunatly we were too knackered and I was feeling too hot either. The three of us went out for our final dinner and a quick drink and then it was back for some much needed sleep. Becca went out though and had a pretty good night I think.

The next morning we said a sad goodbye to Becca and Cusco. Off to Lima now. We'd had a lot of fun being a three and was very sad to separate. We were excited for USA though and we knew Becca had made some friends and would have a great time.

Signing off from Cusco

Tarrarrrr xxxx